Operating device and disconnecting switch



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Patented Aug. 30, 19727.

U Nrrsn STATES l,PAT

y j f 1,640,558

ENT? OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN AALEoRG, orv PITTSBURGII, AND FREDERICK C. WILHARM, 0E HOME- Woon, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNCRs TowEsTINGIIoUsE ELECTRIC yAND YMANU- FACTURING COMlANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN SVYLVANIA.y

OPERATING DEVICE AND nIsCoNNECTING SWITCH.l

Application med Janaary s, 1923,se1j1'a1 Nb. 611,267. 'Renewemanuary 25,1927.y

Our invention relates to circuit interrupters and more particularly to the automatic operation ot' such circuit interrupters and their associated disconnecting switches One. object of' our invention is to provide a circuit-interrupter 'system in whichV the power devicefor actuating the'circuit interrupters may also bev employed for actuating disconnecting switches for the several circuit interrupters. y y

Another object .of our invention is to provide mechanical means for preventing the operation of the disconnecting switches when the circuit interrupter is in a predetermined operating position.y i

Itisl also an object of our invention to provide means for selectively connecting the mechanism for controlling the circuit interruptersor the mechanism for controlling the disconnectingswitches to apower device, as desired. p Y

Figure'` 1 visa sectional view of a por- 'lion of a power stationv embodying our invention.` Y f n Fig."2is an elevational view otra setof disconnecting :switches andV certain` related mechanism.

`rFig. is a diagrammatic view ofv the` power device and' and circuits. n y 4 ,i Fig. t is aside view, partially in section, .of the apparatus for` controllingthezmechanicaliconnectons of the' power device. Similar reference numerals inthe several figures of the drawing indicatellke parts. In the preferredembodiment of our` invention, a powerstationfl has .a plurality of floors or levels-2,58, 4; and `5',l between which its associatedy mechanism 'project shelves 6. Between Afloors 2, 3, 4

and 5, are placeda plurality of. 'crcuitfin terrupters 7 which. maybe of any conventional ty e. Thecircuit-interruptersj 7j are connecter linkage. mechanism? 8 and a selective gear-'shifting*mechanism 9, to a an electric motor.`

power device 11 which may be, lfor example,

and in cooperation Withthe several circuit interrupters 7, are placed aplurality ofkdis4-` i connecting switches `12 which arelconnected circuit interrupter y i n The gear-shifting ,mechanismV 9 comprises 1 a double-faced .clutch member '29 .that is The .linkage mechanism comprises a pairv o1 .parallel` coupling members 13 and 14 which extend vertically through floors 2, 3

, and .21, and the several shelves'. Coupling member lll'is adapted for the opera-tionof the `circuit interrupters and has secured thereto, at suitable positions, a plurality of levers :15 which are respectively pivoted, as

at 16, tothe several circuit interrupt-ers for the purpose ofvoperating themechanism 17 which clcses-'and interrupts the electrical circuit controlled'by each circuit interrupt er 7. y At its upper end, coupling member 14 is secured to ar pivotally mounted lever 18 that is'adapted to be operatively connected to the motor 11 by the ,gearshifting' mechanism 9. y

The coupling member 13 .is connected, at its upperend, toa second pivotally mounted lever 19 thatis also adaptedvfor operativeconnection to the motor 11 bythe gear-shiftN ing mechanism 9. The severalshelves 6 supporta pair ofbracket members 21 which, in

turn, support shaft 22, asis shownv in Fig. 2. Mounted on the shafts 2,2, are a plurality 'of `crank arms 23 .that areoperatively con y nected tothe coupling member 13.

.Keyed to the shafts 22are a plurality of crank arms 24 which have ypivotal, connec tion tor-links. 25, the latter having a directpivotal connection to the several knife-blade switches `26 of the disconnecting switches V12. v y Each disconnectinglswitch 12 comprises a `pair of knife-blade switches 2G. eachr of which 'is supportedfby a pair of insulators 27 attached tothe walls of vthe power stationl. B'y means 0f this'arrangen'ient, each of the yelectrical conductors 28-connectedto the circuit interrupter 7 may be disconnect. ed, .thereby completely de-energfizing the slidably keyedr on the motor `shaft `and which coact-swith clutchV members 31. and

n. K 32 that are.looselymounted'on the shaft 30. Between `theseveral'floors 2, 3,' 4' and 5,"

The clutchjme'mbers 31fand` 32 y are respectively ,connected Ato'cam*members. 33 and 34; whichcontrol the positions of.' the cor ture member 36 at its outer end and being normally held in its central position by suitable springs 37.

The actuation of the lever and the clutch member 29 to an operative position is effected by the one or the other of the electro-magnets 3.8 and 439 that are located upon opposite sides ot the lever and adjacent to the armature member 36.

An interlock 'for prcventing operation of the lever 19 unless the lever 1 8 is in a predetermined position vcomprises a spring pressed plunger 51 which normally engages lever 19. An inclined projection 52 on the member 18 normally engages the plunger 51 to 'cause thelatter to project into vthe athot the member 19, as is shown in lligt 3.

The motor 11 is remotely Controlled by switches 53 and 54. The 'switch member coacts with Contact 'members 55 and 56 while tli"e 'switcl 1 member coacts with contact members 57 and The switch meinbers '53 and 511 "are so disposed that theyengage Contact membeijs 55 and 57, respectively, in advance ofthe Contact members 56 and 58, whereby ythe corresponding electromagnets '38 and 39 are ene'roized prior to the closing of the motor circuit.

Iny the operation of a power station einbodyingour invention, the circuit interrupt 'ers 7 are `t'reoltunt'ly operated for the purpose 'of interrupting the Circuits represented by 'conductors 28; It may be assumed that the lever 18 and the Icam 33 occnpy the respective positions in Jwhich they 'are illustrate'd in Fig. 1. Inthis position 'of the lever 18, the circuit interrupters are closed. In order to actnate the coupling member 14 to open thecirc'uit,interrilpters, the.A operator actuate's the switch member "53 to cause the latter to engage 4the 'contactmembers 55 and J56. The engagement between the switch member 53 and `the Contact member 55 causes energization of Athe electromagnet 38 which ac'tua'tes the lever 35 to shift the clutch member 29 into engagement with the clutch member 31.

Engagement of the switch lmember 53 with the Vcontact member l56 completes the motor circuit which vcomprises a source of energy 61.V rThe motorl then rotates Athe clutch members I29 and31jand 'cam 33 in a counter-clockwise direction, las y Iviewed in Fig, 4. At the proper point in 'the rotation of the cam 33, the lever 18 falls by force of gravity to cause a resultant operation of the circuit-interrupter mechanism 17. The switch 53 is then opened, cle-energizing the motor 11 and the velec tromagnet 38, thereby allowing' the lever to move into a neutral position under 'the .iniaence ot the spring 37 that was placed nnder stress. lf it is desired to close the circuit interrupters 7, the switch 53 is again closed 'to Vcause the motor 11 and cam 33 to raise member 18 into its operative position.

Such provision may be made that, during the travel of the member 18. the plunger 51 may be engaged by the projection 52 to lock the lever 19 in operative positionV or it may be disengaged therel'ronrto permit operation ofthe lever 19. In the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, provision is made whereby 'the member 19 and 'the controlled disconnectinO' switches 12 cannot be actuated when circuit interrupters l? are in their closed positions.

lVl'i'en it desired to operate the discon nec-"tinoh switches 12, and the member 18 is in prope 'i member 19 is i position. movement oi permitted by ythe interlocking mechanism, The closino' oi switch 5 4 iirst ell'ec'ts enertion oi electromagnet 39, ca'iising clutch member 29 to engage clutch member and then 'complete 'the motor circuit. rihe cam then 'raises or lowers the lever 19 in the same manner that the cam actuates the lever 18. `In case the lever 19 is lowered, motion is transmitted, through 'the 'c'o'ilpli'ng member 13 and associated mechanism, to the several ldisconn'ecting knife blades 21S to cause them to open, whereupon the circuit interrupters 7 are cle-'energized and rendered sate tor repair purposes.

The opening o'r the closing of the disconnecting switches whilc the circuit interrupt'ers are closed is prevented by the operation lof the interlocking mechanism. lVe havey provided a system of 'control for electrical circuit interrupters which requires but a single device for operating both the circnit interrupters and their Aassociated disconnecting switches. In our s'fstem, we liave provicled a. mechanism whic" prevents the operationpfthe discm'inectingr switches and the circuit interrnpters in an 'iin-proper se uence.

t will be apparent that various modifications in details and general arrangement may be made Vwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, -as defined in the Aacoinpuiying claims. For example, it it is desired, the disconnecting switches and circuit interrupte'rsinay be interlocked in such manner that the former may be closed or opened only when the latter are closed. It will be understood that an electr'omagnet or other lsuitable electro-responsive device may be substituted for the electrie motor, which is shown by way v0f example. i

We claim as our invention: 1. `In an electrical apparatus, a plurality lof. circuit interrupters at different levels, a

disconnecting switch associated with each circuit 'interrupter, and a power device Aadapted vto `operate either said circuit interrupters or Asaid disconnecting switches.

2. In an electrical apparatus, a plurality l U l) of circuit interrupters, a disconnecting switch associated with each yot' said circuit interrupters, a power device, and ineansjfor selectively causing said power devicev to operate either said circuit interrupters or said' disconnecting switches.

t. In an electrical apparatus, a plurality of circuitinterrupters,y a disconnecting switch associated with each of said circuit interrupters, a power device,'and means for selectively causing said power device to operate either said circuit interrupters or said disconnecting switches and means for controlling tlie operation oi said disconnecting switches with respect to theoperative condition oi` said circuit interrupters. Y

5. Inr an electrical apparatus, a plurality of circuit interrupters, a disconnecting switch associated with each of said circuit interrupters, a `power device, and means for selectively causing said power device to' operate either said circuit interrupters or said disconnecting switches and mechanical means `for controlling the voperation of said disconnecting switches with respect to the operative condition of said circuit interiupters.

6. In an electrical apparatus, a'pluralityV of circuit interrupters, a power device adapted to operate said circuit interrupters or to control the connection of said circuit interrupters to an electrical circuit, and means for controlling the operation of the connecting means with relation to the operative condition ot said circuit interrupters.

7. Invan electrical apparatus, a plurality of circuit interrupters, a disconnecting switch associated with each oi' said circuit interrupters, a power device, and electrically controlled means for selectively causing said power device to operate either said circuit interrupters or said 'disconnecting switches. 8. In an electrical apparatus, a plurality of circuit interrupters at dili'erent levels, .a disconnecting switch associated with each circuit interrupter, a power device, a mechanisin adapted for connection between said power device and said circuit interrupters,

a mechanism adapted 'for connection between said disconnecting switches and said ypower* device, electrically controlled means for selectively causing said power device to actuate either the circuit interrupters or the disconnecting switches, and means for conrolling the movement of the disconnecting switches with relation to the operating tion of said circuit interrupter.

YIn testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 18th day of December, 1922.

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. FREDERICK C. WILHARM.

posi- 

